New DAP recruit won't be fielded in Kluang, says Chin Tong

GE14 | Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong today clarified that its latest recruit, former Bersih activist Johnson Chew Chong Sin will not be fielded in Kluang.

"He won't be the Kluang MP candidate as speculated by Malaysiakini, he may or may not be a candidate, he's joining the party to contribute.

"If there's an opportunity, we may ask him to contest or we may not ask him to contest, that will be decided at a later stage," said the current Kluang MP in a press conference today.

At the press conference at the party's headquarters today, DAP officially welcomed Chew into the party.

Asked later whether Chew will be fielded in other seats, Liew said the party was keeping that option open.

"(But) it's definitely not Kluang," he said.

Whether there was a possibility of Chew being fielded under one of the state seats under Kluang, Liew said he may or may not be fielded as such.

Asked whether the party has decided on the candidate for Kluang, Liew said this will be revealed during an announcement on the matter, at a later date.

DAP sources had told Malaysiakini that Chew, a Kluang native, will be asked to contest in the parliamentary constituency.

Chew (photo), who is Shanghai Bersih founder, during the press conference today, said contesting or otherwise was not "critical".

Explaining his decision to join the party, the 45-year-old said he was simply angry at the country's "endless scandals and mess of economic problems".

"I believe politics is the only solution for the above problems. I choose to take a bigger step into the political process and join DAP in order to work together as a team to rectify these problems."

Looking at the "endless scandals" in Malaysia, Chew said this was not the Malaysia he knew.

"This is not the Malaysia that we have been proud of. Malaysia should have rule of law, a fair system led by a group of high-quality politicians and an efficient public administrative system."

Citing his and his family's experience living in Shanghai, China for more than 10 years, Chew said it made them think why Malaysia cannot achieve its full potential.

"Now, we have returned to our home country, we hope we can improve the economic opportunities so that more people can return to their hometown and be reunited with their families.

"We cannot just live in a virtue bubble and remain as a bystander and tolerate the grand corruption that is taking place," he insisted.

Also present at the press conference today were DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Penang Institute fellow Wong Chin Huat, former Bersih chief Maria Chin Abdullah and DAP state assemblyperson Yeo Bee Yin. -Mkini